The Irish standard., 1887-12-17
A STIRRING CAREER WEST.
The Strange Life and Death Of
General Thomas Francis
Meagher.
Interesting Information Concerning the
Commruder Of the Famous
Irish Brigade.

Irish Brigade.
| Every one familiar with the history
of the Rebellion, writesa correspondent
of the New York World, has heard of
the famous irish brigade which Meagn-
er commanded through The tbickest of
the battles for the Union and in the
darkest hours of National peril, When
the war broke out he was engaged In
the practice of law in New Y ork City,
and had an Office in Ann street. Ile
laid down his volumes Of Blackstone
aud opened the pages of Vauban,
Emerging from the quiet atmosphere OF
his law Office he called upon his conn
trymen by proclamation and in public
speech 10 rally to the defense OF the
Union, and they responded to the call
enthusiastically and in gratifying mum.
bers, Through the Battles of l2air
Oaks, Richmond, Manassas. ADtie-
tam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellors-
vile the brigade fought, coming from
Tie field of Characteristic Struggling
and weary, The remnant Of the brave
fighting material that had flashed their
swords and won the praises of Mcclellan
at E'aiI Oaks and Richmond Gen.
Prjm remarked after the battle OF Fair
Oaks that he did not wonder the brig
ade fought so we'll, 'sfor," !" said he "their
cheers are as good as the ballets Of
other men, Meagher inspired his
men with his exhilaration of spirits
and constantly infused them with new
courage both by word and deed. When
he ordered them TO charge he was FIRST
to leave and last to retreat. His bear
ing as soldier was the subject Of uni
versal admiration, and he himself was
the idol of his men.
| After the war President Johnson, i'll
recognition of his services, rendered
Meagher the Secretaryship Of Montana
Territory. He arrived in Virginia City,
the seat Of government, at the close Of
the summer 1865. Gov. Edgerlon,
who was about to leave the Territory
for some months, issued a proclamation
appo. .nting Gen. Meagher Acting Gov,
ernor in his absence. Meagher's FIRST
official act was to call together the
Legislature for the purpose Of voting
supplies fer the expenses OF Govern
ment. His constitutional right TO dc
this was called into question by the
politicians and the press opposed tc
Z him. He himself at first doubted his
right to call the Legislature. but, on
consideration, he decided to take the
step, and defended his course with his
usual ability i'll his message and in 6
speech, delivered at q Democratic con
vention shortly afterwards.
Meagher, it is known, had some diff
Guilty with the politicians of the Terri
tory. The true inwardness of this it is
now impossible to ascertain, but it is
not unlikely it grew out of the shary
lines that were drawn between thu
Northern and Southern sympathiZer!
and the acerbities which were rife al
the close of the great conflict Boil
sides wished to claim him, but Meag
hers stand was decided and unc0m
promising. In answer to the politicians
whose sympathies were with the Nort1
and who caviled because Meagher ap-
pointed Southern men to office, he tolt
them that the soldier Of the South, fav
ing heroically fought for four years. hat
now lowered his colors and sheatheC
his sword; that the spirit in which hi
surrendered, as we'll as the spirit with
which he fought, entitled him to re
spect, honorable consideration, and th.
frank confidence of his late adversaries
The war over, he, for one, would no
have planted thorns in the grave'
where the olive had taken root" Ant
so he defined his course frankly ane
honestly, but unfincEingly. For some
time before the accident which resulted
in his death Gen. Meagher contempla
ted resigning his position. The salar,
of his office was too scanty to justify
HIM in retaining it. He had, indeed
been waited upon by committee Of
the leaders of his own party, rendering
him the nomination of Delegate te
| Congress and offering to defray all the
expenses of the campaign. The nomi-
nation would have been equivalent to
election, for the Democratic party was
overwhelmingly dominant il the Terri
tory. But Meagher declined the prof
fered honor in generous zones, which.
however, were tinged with melancholy,
saving that he was too poor to enter
upon the duties of a Delegate to Con-
gress and support an establishment IN
keeping with 1.-THE social position ii
would necessarily entail at the Nation
al Capital. He intended resuming the
! practice Of law.as soon as he could be